Hafun community in Somalia has been struggling with prolonged droughts, tsunamis and cyclones which devastated most of the basic social services infrastructure. Chronic droughts and saltwater intrusion have dried or contaminated most of the wells that previously sustained the population in Hafun. During times of high demand, the cost of water from far away wells was exorbitant. Tanker trucks supplied low-quality water from 4-5 hours away and sold to families at high prices.

Together with the NGO Save the Children, Elemental Water Makers designed, built & commissioned a solar desalination solution to serve the population of 35,000 people in Hafun District. The plant can produce 88,000 liters of clean water per day. Each day using off-grid solar energy, 45,000 liters are produced using only the sea and sun.  The seawater desalination plant is a long-term, reliable, and sustainable solution for the water shortage that plagued Hafun district.

By utilizing energy recovery technology, the amount of solar panels required has been cut by 70%. By avoiding the use of chemicals in the entire operation and maintenance, the operational expenses and risk are further reduced, leading to a low cost of water produced. By powering the unit on solar energy only, no fossil fuels are involved in the plant’s operation. WASH engineers of Save the Children have been trained to remain involved in the operation and maintenance of the desalination plant and a Water User Committee has been set up locally to ensure the operational sustainability of the plant.